A chemistry laboratory experiment is described to introduce undergraduate college students to membrane separation technology. This experiment combines a simple nanowire membrane fabrication and visually indicated molecule separation. The membrane is produced via coprecipitation synthesis followed by a filtration assembly process, which can be…

An experimental design by combining hydrogel and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium salt (EDTA) for visually displaying chemical complexation reactions is developed. The Na[superscript +] ions on the [alpha]-l-guluronic acid (G) unit of the sodium alginate molecule undergo an ion exchange with a divalent cation, so that the G units are…

Water pollution has been one of the major issues of the present time. It is essential to educate students regarding this issue and its possible solutions. In this article, a demonstration of a typical adsorption-based water cleaning process is presented. The removal of methylene blue (MB) and detergent from an aqueous solution is demonstrated…

A quantitative titration of the amount of magnesium hydroxide in milk of magnesia using only items purchased in grocery and retail stores is reported. Either vinegar or a solution of food grade citric acid serves as the titrant, while food dyes advertised as being extracted from natural sources provide the end-point indicator. An inexpensive,…

Colorful transitions of various acid-base indicators have been used to illustrate the concept of chemical equilibria, especially in spectrophotometric determination of the equilibrium constants or pKa values. To accommodate an online laboratory environment necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic, this work employs color analyses from digital images…

Anthocyanins are natural pigments belonging to the flavonoid family that generate the red, blue, and purple colors of fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Their structure and color are dependent on various factors, like the pH. Anthocyanins appear red in acidic, purple in neutral, and blue in basic solutions, making them suitable for use as natural pH…

In the laboratory experiment described here, students synthesize silver nanostructures (AgNS) with different shapes and sizes to elucidate the shape- and size-dependent optical properties of nanostructured materials. Students also develop understanding of some thermodynamic and kinetic aspects of the synthesis process through this experiment. In…

A procedure for one-pot preparation and characterization of silver 1D nanostructures is described. The main advantages of this synthetic approach are the simplicity and reproducibility, where the size of the final product can be controlled just by changing the reaction time. This experiment is designed as a laboratory introduction to colloidal…

A laboratory experiment has been developed to illustrate the transformation of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) in water containing phosphate anions. The experiment, conducted by high school students, involved hands-on learning to synthesize and characterize Ag NPs via ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy. This was followed by a UV-vis probe of…

Teaching the periodic table is a central part of chemistry. This might involve memorizing the symbols of the elements, learning about the properties of the families, or understanding its general organization. This year, The International Year of the Periodic Table, marks its 150th anniversary, and represents a good opportunity to highlight its…

The introduction of the computer into the educational process is a fact. The educational use of new technologies creates a new, more appealing and enjoyable learning environment. The introduction of new technologies into school differentiates the role of the professor by giving him/her a guiding character in a process of experiential approach to…

An experiment is described that uses easily obtained materials (glow sticks, chalk, and acetone or alcohol) to separate the dyes contained in glow sticks that actively emit chemiluminescent light. The experiment is very easy to carry out, making it amenable for students to perform in laboratory or outreach settings. The separation occurs fast…

The need for shifting the expository laboratory instruction style to inquiry-based approaches is widely acknowledged. Problem-based learning (PBL), one of the inquiry-based approaches, advocates students' self-directed learning. The literature indicates that scaffolding students' independent learning is necessary for a PBL environment. In our…

The National Research Council's Framework for K-12 Science Education articulates the need to shift science curricula from being a collection of discrete facts to curricula that integrate core ideas and practices. To help teachers better integrate content and to respond to expressed frustration regarding extensive lists of standards often presented…

This paper describes the development of a mobile application to engage students in active learning in analytical chemistry. Colorimetry is a topic in analytical chemistry that can effectively be learned through the use of mobile devices to perform colorimetric measurement in the real-life environment. Previous attempts in the development of…